Federal Budget

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the federal budget.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: Labor has a strong history of committing to gender equity—

The Hon. S.G. Wade: That is comment.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: I beg your pardon? I will start again. Labor has a proud and strong history of committing to gender equity and working to lift the participation of women in social and economic spheres of life. Will the minister tell the chamber the impact of the federal government budget on women and their families?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his concern for these very important impacts that the federal government has had here in South Australia, particularly on women. These budget cuts will have a huge impact on not only all South Australians but particularly women, because of the particular responsibilities they bear. Women have been one of the hardest hit in this brutal federal budget. There have been significant hits in several key sectors and, quite frankly, I think women will face the brunt of most of these proposed changes. That is why Labor is rejecting this budget and fighting for a fair go.

This budget does nothing to improve the lives of women and their children. It proposes to make life more difficult for women. What do we hear from the opposite side of the chamber? What do we hear from them about budget cuts to women? Do we hear the opposition trying to stick up for South Australians and the vital services that will be cut and slashed?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister. Please be quiet.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Now, the Hon. Mr Ridgway—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Ridgway! Now, listen: when a member is on their feet and they are giving an explanation, I think it is only respectful that we listen to what they have to say. The honourable minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President. Did the man who calls himself 'Prime Minister for women' not consider the impact of the fee that's been placed on medical care and the impact that that would have on households?

Did the same person think about the fact that he has cut $2.2 million from a national partnership program for single and teen parents from 1 July this year? It is not, as the Prime Minister is claiming, many years away, but this year—1 July this year. It is a program that provides skills to single and teen parents so that they can support their young families. He has also ripped funds out of the training subsidies to teen parents—important funds to assist them to continue training whilst they are parenting at such a young age.

What sort of future are these people going to have? What sort of a future are these teen parents going to have without that support? Where are they going to end up? That's what I ask you, Mr President. What's more, I ask: what are the members opposite doing to challenge the Abbott government in its decisions on this budget? What are they doing to stand up for South Australians and the really essential services that are being torn apart by this budget?

They should be out there fighting to secure funds for our domestic violence services. Some of these services face significant uncertainty after 2014-15 when it looks like the funding will be cut from the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. There is nothing there in the forward estimates, so what will happen in terms of the funding needed to support accommodation for these women at extremely high risk and their children? Where are they going to go? Where will they end up? Out on the street?

What's the opposition doing about this? What are they saying? How are they lobbying and voicing their concern for these vulnerable South Australians? This federal budget will deeply impact on the cost of living for Australian women and their families in particular.

There are many key sectors that this budget affects and, disproportionately, women, who are often low-income earners and carers. Of course, we know, on average, they live longer as well, so will be significantly disadvantaged by changes to the pension, the increase in working age, the cuts to concessions and the rest—the list goes on. Female pensioners, as I said, will be disproportionately affected by changes to the pension age, low-income superannuation contribution and loss of the seniors supplement.

From September 2017, the carer payment will have its indexation arrangements cut—a broken promise by the federal government who, prior to the election, promised there would be no change to the carers' pension. Mr Abbott stood there, faced the Australian public and just told barefaced lies. He lied to us.

Changes to higher education payments mean that women will be forced to take on further debts to pay for their university and training fees, leaving less for their own families or they will be forced to make choices about whether they can engage in study or not—a less than desirable outcome. The GP tax and the fuel tax, in particular, will deeply impact on women helping to raise and support families, and then a single parent on the parenting payment will have their budget hit by more than $3,400 per year.

Labor has always been committed to providing opportunity and work to increase women's participation in all areas of life, but the Abbott government seems intent on destroying these opportunities. This can be evidenced through the decision to cut $1.6 million from the national Office for Women's leadership and development strategy over the next four years.

What the Prime Minister has shown with this budget is his disregard for gender equality—a dismissiveness that will disadvantage business and the Australian economy generally.

We condemn this budget. This Labor government condemns this budget because of its adverse impact on South Australians, and women in particular. We will fight to ensure a fairer budget that provides a positive future for everyone, including women.